Question
Define refractive index
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Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The refractive index, often denoted as \( n \), is a dimensionless number that describes how light propagates through a medium. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum (\( c \)) to the speed of light in the medium (\( v \)):
\[
n = \frac{c}{v}
\]
Where:
- \( c \) is the speed of light in a vacuum, approximately \( 3.00 \times 10^8 \) meters per second.
- \( v \) is the speed of light in the material.
The refractive index indicates how much the light will bend, or refract, when entering a material from another medium. A higher refractive index means that light travels slower in that medium and that light rays will bend more upon entering or exiting the medium. Different materials have different refractive indices; for example, air has a refractive index close to 1, while water has a refractive index of about 1.33, and glass can vary typically between 1.5 to 1.9, depending on its composition.
\[
n = \frac{c}{v}
\]
Where:
- \( c \) is the speed of light in a vacuum, approximately \( 3.00 \times 10^8 \) meters per second.
- \( v \) is the speed of light in the material.
The refractive index indicates how much the light will bend, or refract, when entering a material from another medium. A higher refractive index means that light travels slower in that medium and that light rays will bend more upon entering or exiting the medium. Different materials have different refractive indices; for example, air has a refractive index close to 1, while water has a refractive index of about 1.33, and glass can vary typically between 1.5 to 1.9, depending on its composition.